The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-01

had excused himself from duty in the morning
on the plea of illness, had devoured all his
rations, 90 that he was compelled to fast until
she next day. lie was the orderly sergeant of
his company. Not long afterwards when he
was firing cannon, it burst, and injured him
so severely rs to disable him forever from ac-
tive service.
William Grey, after Philips departure, Joined
the company Of Captain Robert Ellison as first
lieutenant. lie served in the Indian war under
General Pickens, ut the battle of Fort Moultrie,
in the campaign against 81. Augustine, remark
able only for the suffering Of the troops and
was engaged in almost every battle fought in
the South. CASTOR was his chosen friend, and
both were lieutenants in the regular army
Both were remarkable for their brave spirit
and love Of the pomp and show Of war their
uniforms were rich in material aud splendid in
decoration, and their three-cornered hats were
adorned with tall and waving plumes. The
soldiers remarked that Gaston's uniform made
him two conspicuous when the regulars made
the charge on the British works at Savannah,
in which he was wounded. At the opening of
the campaign Of 1880, these two young officers
were again in the field. After the fall Of
Charleston, when the whole province lay under
the paw Of the British lion, they were among
the handful Of Wings who stood unsubdusd on
the upper edge Of the State, on their return
from North Carolina, whittier they had been
driven Us refugees, and ready to contend for
the ground, inch by inch. In June, 1850,
their camp was pitched on Clems Branch, on
the upper edge Of Lancaster District It was
here that they were found by General Sumter.
The heartfelt, thrilling joy Of this meeting
may be imagined. These officers had been en-
gagged for years in the same sacred, though
now dropping cause. All were driven from
their homes their beloved ones left to the
mercy Of the invader. Sumter had been forced
to fly, while the enemy were wreaking their
vengeance on his defenceles. household, de-
stroying his property, plunderiug his goods,
and burning his house to the ground. Mrs.
Sumter and the family, turned out rshelte rless,
had sought the hospitali of family in the
country. sOlicitade 70 He safety of these
helpless ones, and indignation at their spoilers,
stimulated the patriots to immediate action
General Sumter ~sClected o few men : among
whom were william Grey and Alexander Gas
ton, to accompany him TO the lower country
bring away his family, and punish the destroy
ers. At wrihgts Bluff, on Black River, they en-
countered body OF British aud Loyalists, and
were forced to retreat across the river. Gas
ton had taken the smallpox, and, being wet
while crossing, became too i'll to proceed. ;. and
was left at the house Of Mcconnell. He died
In few days. ''i "''
As o curious incident, il may be mentioned ed
that his splendid uniform, carefully preserved
by the Gaston family, was altered into wed :
ding-ooat, nine years afterwards, for his young.
est brother, Joseph CASTOR. The coat was
made by John Hemphill, who then followed
the trade Of q tailor, but having, by industry
In his calling, accumulated money, obtained .
classical education, studied divinity in the As
sociate Reformed Presbyterian church, md
ranked among the ablest diviues OF the day
The anguish Of Mary Grey at the news of
her lovers death may not be described. The
lapse Of twelve years could not soo,Ks her
grief SO that she would listen to any proposal
OF marriage. And to the latest period Of her life
the mention OF Alexander Gaston's name would
bring tears to her eyes, while she repeated :
| Yes; VIC were to have been married at the
close Of the war;
During the summer of 1870, probably at the
surprise Of Sumter, on Fishing Creek, *tWiniam
Grey was taken prisoner, and sent to Camden
jail. He was afterwards liberated on parole,
but not allowed to go more than three miles
from Winnsboro'. He stayed with his brother.
in-law McCreight, where Mary was most of
the time. the British being encamped at Winns-
boro'. Her family had been robbed several times
BY the Tories, but she was accustomed to say :
Il had no fears. My mind was fixed unchanpe-
ably to the cause She looked on the enemies
Of her country as the cause Of her own sor.
| rows. f
The British always pretended to pay for
what they took from the country people, giving
| certificates, which, they said, would be re.
deemed BY the kings agents which, however,
the Wings did not like to. resdse!. on ons 90.
casion, whea party Of -ths enemy fodk ifrost
Of the provisions from Dunlap, be requested
the soldiers to leave him o few dozens of OATS
for seed. Gu their refusal, he observed : Il
am now satisfied you don't intend to stay long,
or you would want to let us plant again. >
When, at another time, they had plundered
McCreights barnyard, Mrs. McCreght saw
them chasing her poultry, and, calling after
| ---i-i will YOU take nv oae.s .,
saved her hook from spoilation. e
The small-pox, was prevalent, at this time
smong the Bfitish soldiers, ssd aspeciallv The
Tories add@ hanssrs-on Of tho Gang. The sick
were quariered upon the inhabitants Of the
surrounding country, two being placed in
Mary,s family. She was compelled to give m
the house ahdlfrsih The kitchen, RENO attend
upon tho iDtrud ers, who were suffering much
! with the disens, md appeared to be clerrymep
tnsy seemed frepss:snt for having left their
charge at hcrae, and act nov,oa..5 a., t.,